Philip Boyce, who runs the brilliant OiNK blog, devoted to one of Britain’s most anarchic comics of yesteryear, continues what we may make an annual celebration of British Christmas comics…

Merry Christmas, everyone! On my OiNK Blog, I’ve had fun rediscovering favourite classic comics in real time. I love the Christmas season and as a kid adored our festive issues, so downthetubes has invited me to count down my personal Top Five Classic Christmas Comics. Fourth place goes to… Super Naturals No. 5, published by Fleetway.

It seemed 1988 was the year of the hologram, with both Hasbro’s Visionaries and Tonka’s Super Naturals vying for position on UK toy shelves. Neither lasted very long, but they still brought much joy to me as a kid. In covering their respective comics for the blog I’ve been very pleasantly surprised to discover both had high quality series to match those high quality holographic images.

Super Naturals comic had more issues than Visionaries, and featured all originated UK content, but still only lasted for nine fortnightly editions, a preview and two specials. But what was produced was exceptional. With legendary editor Barrie Tomlinson at the helm, he’d created a kind of licenced horror sequel to his own Scream! comic. Each issue contained three serials tied in to the toys, an anthology horror series based on reader ideas, and the terrifying, murderous ventriloquist’s puppet known only as The Doll!

Surprisingly, four of the five strips (serials included) had a Christmas theme, the best of the licenced ones being “The Curse”, which began this issue. Just look at that gorgeous opening page of Alan Langford’s art, looking very much like the picture perfect Victorian Christmas scene. In fact, that’s exactly what it is, what with our paranormal heroes and villains able to cross over from their Ghostworld into any time in history (or even the far future).

This Christmas card opening soon sees the arrival of the evil Super Naturals, who terrorise the locals as they make their way up the Thames to unlock the tomb of a lost ancient warrior. It’s a great tale and it meant a Christmas story technically lasted months into the New Year. Unfortunately, the interesting set up had to be rushed to a climax in the final issue (No. 9), but the early chapters are a delight.

The Super Naturals toys never took off and so the days of the comic were always going to be numbered, but while covering them on the blog, it struck me how many people suddenly remembered being terrified by “The Doll” as young children. We loved every panel of it! I personally remember reading the first couple of chapters in bed, late at night, with nothing but a small lamp, just to add that extra bit of atmosphere and it genuinely worked. Just like with Doctor Who, we kids loved being given a safe fright.

You can check out the whole story on the blog itself over the course of the reviews. In this issue, it jumped forward to Christmas Day and after some pleasant and peaceful celebrations the family involved began to think they were being watched, and keen readers were always checking the shadows in every panel. Shockingly, it all kicks off with the dead body of a homeless man killed in a skip outside the house and ends with The Doll finally jumping out on the dad of the family. With another doll’s arm in its mouth, innards spilling out, its intentions were clear.

Contrary to accounts elsewhere on the internet, “The Doll” was indeed written for Super Naturals, although the writer’s name remains unknown. Artist Francesc Masi did a brilliant job of bringing the horror to the page though. It was one hell of a cliffhanger to leave the kids with over the festive period.

Elsewhere, another tie-in story is set in a future where humans have regressed somewhat, with vast monsters ruling the surface and us living in caves in fear for our lives. However, during the coldest days of the year a tree is brought inside and decorated, although no one seems to know why this tradition exists. There’s also an anthology tale of a kind family taking in a homeless man for Christmas Day and being rewarded for their generosity, before being shown the horrors that would’ve befallen them if they hadn’t. The homeless man was actually some form of spectral entity testing their kindness.

There’s also this brilliant one-page promotional piece. These were something we’d see quite often in our comics, a way of reminding the readers to place an order at their local newsagents. This particular one, with its movie-style monsters and the oblivious young fan, is the best of the ones Super Naturals gave us. Genuinely funny, it would’ve made for a great advert for Super Naturals in other Fleetway comics, but I don’t think it was ever used that way.

It was a genuine surprise to see just how much of this issue was full of Christmassy vibes. Editor Barrie is a big fan of the season and it really shows on every single page. Standing exactly at the halfway point of the regular comic’s run it’s a delight to read and, despite it being something few seem to remember (or even knew existed), it makes my Top Five easily. A perfect example of the imagination and talent behind the Super Naturals comic, it’s such a shame we never got to see a second Christmas special.

Philip Boyce

• You can check out more highlights from this issue on the OiNK Blog here

• Artist Alan Langford – still drawing comics – is online at alanlangford.co.uk

• Follow Super Naturals and Roy of the Rovers editor Barrie Tomlinson on X

• downthetubes: British Comics Past: Super Naturals – feature by Ian Wheeler

downthetubes Guests

One of many guest posts for downthetubes.

Categories: British Comics, Comics, Features, Reviews

Tags: Alan Langford, Barrie Tomlinson, Christmas Comic Countdown, Francesc Masi, Super Naturals, The Doll, Visionaries